Implications of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder for War Veterans Essay

Implications of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder for War Veterans War is a complex concept that is increasingly difficult to understand, particularly in an age that allows for live images of combat to be beamed around the world. Many war films depict the brutalities of war and affects war has on participants, but it seems that these representations merely skim the surface. The 20th century is an era that saw a significant amount of military action: World Wars I and II, the Cold War, Vietnam, and the Gulf War - millions of men fought, some survived and live among us today. Unfortunately, the war experience for many veterans is traumatizing and as a result, many have been diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This disorder is often quite mentally debilitating; this, then, begs the question of the social implications of the disorder as well as whether this has any bearing on the necessity of war. At the minimum, PTSD is a branch of emotion that stems from stress or anxiety. Stress is not uncommon among humans as it can be caused by something as simple as gridlock or an argument. When we feel stressed, our body is attuned to exhibit the fight-or-flight response during which "the body releases chemicals that make it tense, alert, and ready for action" (1). PTSD, however, is a sector of stress that is very specialized for it occurs after traumatic events; these may include car accidents, earthquakes, rape, or military combat. People suffering from PTSD experience paranoia, flashbacks and generally have difficulty engaging in normal daily activities (2). One Vietnam veteran diagnosed with the disorder explains that he often has extreme emotional outbursts: " 'I developed a nasty temper, became very nervous... ...does occur between countries, it is carried out by people, by fellow humans beings who should never have to bear witness to such extreme horrors. Works Cited: 1) Stress info http://my.webmd.com/hw/emotional_wellness/ta4405.asp 2) American Psychiatric Association http://www.psych.org/public_info/ptsd.cfm 3)Kulka, Richard A., et al. Trauma and the Vietnam War Generation. New York: Brunner/Mazel Publishers, 1990. 4) Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Wars, and Terrorism http://www.kimsoft.com/2001/ptsd.htm 5)Wilson, John P., et al, eds. Human Adaptation to Extreme Stress. New York: Plenum Press, 1988. 6)The Invisible Epidemic: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Memory and the Brain http://www.thedoctorwillseeyounow.com/articles/behavior/ptsd_4/ 7) Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Understanding the Pain http://www.nursingceu.com/NCEU/courses/ptsd/